Arrests come as thousands demand justice for Jairo Mora Sandoval

On Wednesday, authorities in Costa Rica arrested seven persons believed to be involved in the May murder of sea turtle defender Jairo Mora Sandoval. The arrests came the same day as environmental activists in eight countries delivered to Costa Rican embassies and consulates a petition with 137,000 signatures demanding justice for Sandoval.

Jairo Sandoval had dedicated himself to protecting leatherback turtles

UPDATE, June 14: Since this article was first published, the reward for information leading to the arrest of Mora’s murderers has increased to $56,000, including $30,000 being offered separately by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson. More than 100,000 people have now signed the petition at Change.org.

LIMON, COSTA RICA – Last week a Costa Rican environmentalist was kidnapped and killed while on a routine patrol to protect leatherback sea turtle eggs from being poached. On the evening of May 30 Jairo Mora Sandoval, three young women from the United States and another from Spain were kidnapped by five masked men carrying military-style rifles as they inspected leatherback nesting… more